––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

a/n: lol emily is in labor…so i have absolutely no idea how this whole birthing situation works, lol….so i'm just going with the flow. k woo! also, i don't think i write this fluffy stuff too well, but i'm trying...

Ok? just thought you should know. lots of love. read review. enjoy!

~kaitlin

"Heard anything?" Derek asked, rushing into the waiting room.

"Plenty of swear words…mom is loud. You can hear them through the door," Riley said pointing to the door, where on the other side, Emily was in labor, "But nothing about her progress," Riley said with a shrug.

"You should get back to your hospital room," He suggested gently, "JJ is in there with her. She'll be okay," he reminded her.

"No," Riley said shaking her head sitting down. Hotch and Declan walked in.

"Penelope, Reid and Dave are on there way," Hotch announced.

"Dec, come sit with me," Riley requested. He snuggled into her lap.

"You're just as stubborn as your mom, you know that?" Derek asked.

"Well," she said shrugging, "I learned from the best."

"That you did, kid," He said, nodding in agreement.

.oOo.

"Riley?" A voice called out. Riley was asleep in a chair. Derek shook her gently. Declan climbed off Riley's lap, and ran to hug JJ.

"Riley," The voice, JJ, said softly. Riley rubbed her eyes.

"Jayje," She greeted with a smile.

"You and Declan want to meet your little sister?" JJ said quietly. Riley shot up.

"Yes," Riley said excitedly, "Derek? You coming?" Riley asked.

"Yeah let's go," Derek nodded in agreement. They walked together quietly into Emily's hospital room.

"Mom," Riley murmured.

"Riley, Declan, this is your new sister," Emily began, kissing her baby's forehead, and grinning at JJ, "Meet Jennifer Marie Prentiss." At the sound of Jennifer, JJ squealed with joy.

"I named her Jennifer, because JJ, you are my best friend, my sister, and with out you, I don't know how Riley and I would have gotten by," Emily explained.

"Emily," JJ squealed excitedly.

"Do you want to hold her, Riles?" Emily asked.

"Uh…." Riley was hesitant, "Ok," she nodded. She took the baby.

"She's beautiful," Riley whispered, stroking the baby's dark hair.

"Me next me next!" Declan proclaimed.

"Of course, honey, but first I want a kiss!" Emily demanded. Declan rolled his eyes, but hugged and kissed Emily's cheek.

"JJ, Derek I want to ask you something, before everyone floods in," Emily requested, while Riley helped Declan hold Jennifer.

"What is it, princess?" Derek asked.

"Will you be Jennifer's godparents?" Emily asked sheepishly.

"Oh Em, of course," JJ nodded, squeezing Emily's hand.

"Absolutely, princess," Derek nodded. Derek moved to Riley.

"Oh, that baby is smiling, because she is looking at Derek Morgan," Derek said giving a cheeky grin.

"I doubt that," Riley said, handing the baby off to Derek, still in awe, as was Declan.

"Jay," Emily whispered.

"Yeah, Em?" JJ asked, kneeling next to her.

"Seriously, thank you…for everything," Emily murmured.

"Thank you, Em," JJ whispered.

"What for?" Emily asked.

"For coming to me that night when you came home from Italy. For not walling me up. For letting me be a part of Riley's life…for letting me be a part of Jennifer's," JJ said quietly.

"I love you, Jayje," Emily said, wrapping her arms around JJ's neck and hugging her.

"I love you, too, Em," JJ said, returning the hug. Both women had tears in her eyes as they pulled away. They laughed at each other.

Beep. "Oh, Hotch just texted me! The rest of the team is here!" JJ exclaimed, "Can I send them in?" She asked.

"Definitely," Emily said nodding with a grin. JJ went out to get the rest of the team. Derek and Declan were still playing with Jennifer.

"Riley," Emily called quietly. Riley sighed and walked over to Emily.

"I don't want to talk about this now," Riley said shaking her head.

"I know you don't…and we can talk later. I want to talk later. But right now, I just want you to know, that I love you. So much," Emily said, as a few tears welled in her eyes.

"We'll talk later," Riley said nodding. There was a pang in Emily's heart when Riley didn't return the 'I love you'. There was clearly more to Riley's suicide attempt then what was on the outside. Her daughter was truly hurting. Emily knew she had to fix that.

"Why Marie?" Riley asked quietly, not looking at Emily.

"What?" Emily asked, looking up.

"Why is her middle name Marie?" Riley asked a little louder.

"Oh…it's because…" Emily began, but was interrupted by Garcia's squeals, and Rossi and Reid's congratulations. Riley left Emily to hug everyone, as they all gathered around the baby and Emily. After congratulating Emily, everyone's attention was on the baby.

"You gonna tell her why it's Marie, Em?" JJ whispered quietly, moving away from all the excitement.

"I don't want to hurt her anymore, JJ," Emily said quietly.

"I know you don't, but that name is a part of you- a part of your past," JJ reminded her.

"I know," Emily said with a huge sigh, "Riley," she called. Riley moved away from the crowd of people to Emily.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Marie…it's because when I first went undercover to live with Ian, my name was Lauren Marie Reynolds. Marie was her middle name," Emily explained.

"Something that reminds you of Ian…" Riley murmured.

"Riley, I'm sorry-" Emily began.

"Don't be…Jennifer is his daughter, too. She'll never know her dad. There should be something for her to remember him by. One day you can explain this all to her, and she'll know that Marie is linked to him," Riley said nodding. She shrugged and walked away.

"JJ, where is she going?" Emily asked nervously as she saw her walk away.

"I'll follow her," JJ said, squeezing Emily's hand gently.

.oOo.

JJ followed Riley back to her hospital bed. She was curled up under a blanket crying.

"Riley," JJ murmured.

"I don't want to talk right now, JJ," Riley mumbled from under the covers.

"Riley, I know and your mom knows that what you did, is about something more than what Emily has done. And what Ian has done. So tell me. What's eating at you?" JJ pleaded.

Riley was silent, as she wiped the tears away. She crawled out from under the blankets.

"That little girl is going to grow up with out a dad. Just like me. She's not gonna go to the father daughter dances. Her dad isn't gonna teach her how to ride a bike. Her dad isn't going to take her fishing. And I know all too well what that's like. And it's my fault. And one day, she's going to ask where her dad is. And someone's going to have to say that he's dead because your sister shot him, and your mother had to put a bullet through his head," Riley explained angrily.

"That's what this is about?" JJ asked shocked.

"It's all my fault. And she's going to have to suffer, just like I did. And I never wanted that for anyone," Riley said sadly.

"Riley," JJ murmured, but she didn't know what to say. Instead, she took Riley into her arms and held her tightly, whispering soft words of reassurance in her ears.

"It's gonna be okay, honey," JJ said softly, praying that she was right.